Rugby 2022: Eddie Jones denies Darcy Swain was a deliberate target of baiting as Wallabies count cost of victory
It was a stunning win, but the cost has been monstrous as the Wallabies look to use extreme provocation as their defence when Darcy Swain fronts the tribunal for headbutting.
Rugby
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News.
“Gutted” lock Darcy Swain will head to the judiciary on Tuesday claiming extreme provocation for his headbutting send-off, while fullback Tom Banks will remain in a Perth hospital as the Wallabies count the cost of their epic victory against England.
Tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa has already been ruled out of Saturday’s second Test in Brisbane due to concussion, and Banks will be sidelined for at least four months after horrifically breaking his arm.
Swain is set to face a number of weeks on the sideline too, after headbutting rival lock Jonny Hill, who had baited him throughout the first half by shoving his face and then pulling his hair — for which he was sin-binned.
After that incident in the 34th minute, Swain inexplicably shoved his head into Hill, warranting a red card.
“I feel for Swainy, after the game he was pretty gutted,” Wallabies playmaker Noah Lolesio said on Sunday morning.
“But he seems like he’s in good spirits this morning, I gave him a big old cuddle to cheer him up. We’ll just see what happens there.”
Despite commentator Justin Harrison saying that England coach Eddie Jones had given him orders in his playing days to target a rival player with similar tactics, Jones denied he’d sent Hill out to bait the young Swain.
“Not to my knowledge, did you know about it Courtney?” Jones replied while sitting next to England skipper Courtney Lawes at the post-match press conference.
“It was just one of those things mate where two bulls go at each other and they get a bit carried away.”
That will be a key defence for England at the hearing.
But Wallabies coach Dave Rennie gave an inkling into how they would approach the matter after their 30-28 win.
“I’m not sure if it was a team plan but certainly there was provocation there,” Rennie said.
“Not just in that situation but earlier in the game so we’ll have a decent look at the footage and work out how we’re going to appeal that.
“If it’s a headbutt it‘s clearly a red card but I’m not sure it was his intent to headbutt but we will look at the footage and get clarity around whether we think there’s an opportunity to challenge.”
Swain was the Wallabies’ primary lineout caller. Matt Philip quickly stepped into that role off the bench will likely start in Brisbane.
Prop Taniela Tupou is favoured to return from injury, in what would be a welcome replacement for Alaalatoa.
With Jordan Petaia performing well on the wing in the absence on Banks for the majority of the game, it’s likely he will start, with Andrew Kellaway the fullback as was the case in Perth last Saturday.
Lolesio was a last-minute replacement for Quade Cooper, who injured his calf warming up, and is set to keep the No. 10 jersey.
The 22-year-old had his most composed performance in the gold jersey during the second half, as Australia overcame enormous odds to score three tries to go 1-0 up the in the three-Test series, ending an eight-match losing streak against England.
“That [red card] happened with Marika [Koroibete] last year against France, it happened last night with Swainy, it just shows the character of the group,” Lolesio said.
“The rugby wasn’t pretty but we just rolled up our sleeves and stuck in for the mate inside and outside you.
“It’s pleasing to know we can get a result even with 14 or 13 men.
“It took me a while to find my groove in the game, but I’m just happy we got that win.
“Rens spoke to us at halftime about being more direct and more dominant in our carry and clean, that gave us nice clean ball for the likes of Samu [Kerevi], Lenny [Ikitau] and Marika especially to get the ball in their hands.
“It’s pleasing to know that when we get told a message at halftime we can do it in the second half.
“But we were far from perfect. We know we’ve got to be a lot better coming into next weekend.”
How did battered Wallabies pull off the impossible?
The Wallabies won.
Just how?
Their playmaker was ruled out five minutes before kickoff.
Their fullback was carted to hospital after the first quarter. Their tighthead prop was out concussed 26 minutes in.
Their lock was sent off before halftime.
At one stage, winger Andrew Kellaway was pushing in a scrum led by loosehead specialist James Slipper, who was covering for the injured tighthead Allan Alaalatoa on the opposite side.
Australia shouldn’t have come close. But they prevailed, and it is the kind of courageous victory that can make a team believe anything is possible.
The final scoreline was 30-28 at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
But it wasn’t that close. Australia led 30-14 with two minutes remaining. They were celebrating in their heads, England hit back with two late tries.
Wallabies lock Darcy Swain was sent off in the 34th minute for headbutting rival Jonny Hill, who had pulled Swain’s hair at a ruck.
The pair had been at each other from kickoff, with Hill earlier shoving Swain in the face, which was missed by all officials.
Their feud exploded when Hill blatantly pulled Swain’s hair, with Swain losing his cool, shoving Hill and then headbutting him. While there was no damage done, it was a clear send-off offence, while Hill was given a yellow card for his grubby act.
That was after Australia had already lost three key players.
Quade Cooper injured his calf in the warm-up and ruled out of the game. Suddenly, Noah Lolesio was starting.
Tom Banks suffered a gruesome injury in the 22nd minute, falling on and breaking his left arm contesting a kick restart.
Banks was stretchered from the field in considerable pain, and taken straight to hospital.
Four minutes later, Alaalatoa was off for a head injury assessment after getting into an awkward position tackling England fullback Freddie Steward.
Somehow, they were level 6-all at the break.
And then a 14-man Australia were ahead 9-6 four minutes into the second half, however England hit back in the 49th with the first try of the match.
Prop Ellis Genge barged through from a rolling maul.
When Farrell kicked his third penalty to put his side 14-9 ahead, it seemed the visitors would squeeze the Wallabies out of the contest.
But Jordan Petaia scored Australia’s first try minutes later, set up by a smart backline spread, and Lolesio nailed the sideline conversion to put them back in the lead 16-14.
Then England backrower Billy Vunipola was sin-binned for a high shot on Michael Hooper, and Wallabies replacement hooker hoodwinked their rolling maul defence, unexpectedly sneaking off and storming over the line.
Lolesio again nailed the wide kick, and against all odds Australia led 23-14 with 10 minutes remaining.
Their stoicism was highlighted minutes later when, with England deep in attack, but Michael Hooper and Pete Samu rabidly attacked the breakdown ball and won a penalty.
And then they claimed a stunning scrum penalty, smashing through England’s pack. It was the opposite of what was supposed to happen.
Before long, the Wallabies were again attacking England’s line, with Samu using a step at the line to crash over and seal victory to the delight of the crowd of 47,668.
Australia begins 2022 with a win, while this is England’s fifth successive defeat. The pressure on coach Eddie Jones grows.
The second Test is in Brisbane next Saturday.
Originally published as Rugby 2022: Eddie Jones denies Darcy Swain was a deliberate target of baiting as Wallabies count cost of victory
‘We cannot get a fix here’ Ex-Wallabies skipper’s retirement fear
“You’d almost rather have a long-term injury.” Those are the words of former Wallabies skipper Dave Porecki, revealing he didn’t know if he’d be back from his gruelling battle with injury.
Waratahs trial standouts, Suaalii injury and a rugby dream for young gun
It’s a time he hated but this painful interlude in Waratahs young gun Henry O’Donnell’s life could well pave the way to his future success in the game. Tahs v Brumbies trial wrap